Could the advice of a current United 'keeper prevent a new one from signing for the club?

Kjetil Haug is the latest teenager to be hailed as the ‘new (insert name of appropriate footballing legend here)’.

The 15-year-old goalkeeper has recently been on trial at Manchester United, and will soon be doing the same for Manchester City, Arsenal and Everton.

The Norwegian has already had one spell at Goodison Park, but it was his time at Old Trafford that has generated plenty of column inches in recent days, with him being hailed – perhaps lazily – as the ‘new Peter Schmeichel’.

Speaking to Norway’s TV2, Haug said, “It was very special to be on trial at Manchester United since I am a supporter myself.

“I talked a lot with Anders Lindegaard. He gave me lots of good advice about a possible transfer. It was very interesting and helpful."

The fact the player is a United supporter may sway him into ultimately choosing United – should they offer him a deal – but Haug himself said that would not be a factor when the time came to choosing a new team.

And you wonder – or at least I do – what United’s back-up ‘keeper said to a boy considering the move he once made.

Given the emergence of David de Gea, Lindegaard is unlikely to ever achieve his goal of being the first-choice custodian of United’s gloves. And while at just 15 Haug has years before such a goal can realistically be achieved, some may question how honest the Dane was when advising the current Sarpsborg player.

While Old Trafford is no doubt a wonderful place to work, is it the best place for a young ‘keeper attempting to find his feet (and his hands) in the game?

We may never know what was said between two members of the goalkeeping union. But should United offer Haug a deal in the future, he may have to put allegiances aside, in favour of moving to the club at which his dreams can be best realised.

After all, unless those rumours about a future move to Barcelona are true, De Gea should still be going strong when Haug is in his mid-20s.

Vincent Ralph

After graduating with a degree in English Literature, Vincent completed a NCTJ-accredited qualification in newspaper and magazine journalism in 2005. Shortly after, in a somewhat leftfield move, he began working at a secondary school in Kent. After eight years – the last four of which were spent as Head of Sixth Form – he began to write full-time, combining his love of football with his passion for the written word.Alongside his work for HITC Sport, he also writes film reviews for HITC Lifestyle… along with the odd music interview when fate allows.